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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1963-09-12, Page 16Page 8 -- lti Ingham Advance -Times, Thursday, Sept, 12, 1963 Third of a Series BY PAUL S. BAUMAN The Old Order Mennonites OLD ORDER FARMERS Because a young Mennonite farmer does not have to buy the fu niture for the home, as his bride's parents supply it. nor an expensive engagement or wed- ding ring, because his church does not approve of it, he is off to a flying start with his agri- cultural enterprise. About 98 per cent of their young people after they get married live from the income made on their farm or farms during their whole life- time. Mennonites have always been basically an agricultural people, they are true sons and daughters of the soil, and con- sider their land as a sacred trust which must be given their full attention at all times. Perhaps the spirit of the Pala- tine Mennonite farmer, David M611inger 1709-1786, of south- ern Germany still exists in these people. His agricultural inno- vations were rather astounding and may have helped to make these folks the successful farm- ers they have always been up to the present time. Mbllinger became <<nown as the "Father of Palatine Agriculture", because he raised clover and by spread- ing gypsum (raw lime) on his land he greatly enriched the soil. From his vinegar factory and brewery he obtained a mash with which he fattened cattle. His crop rotation system was generally adopted in the Pala- tinate, and as the growing of clover improved the soil, the number of cattle raised on a farm was tripled. One unusual aspect about the Old Order Mennonites' system of farming is that they make the ordinary 100 -acre family farm a going concern, which nets them a comfortable living, and with it as a start, continue in their thrifty manner, until they usually own several farms. They have proved that our agri- cultural experts are wrong when I they say that a farmer must #"specialize" in order to make .a living to -day, and they also tell us that the 100 -acre farm is an antique. which won't yield enough profits to cover the cost of machinery, feed, 'fertilizer and the maintenance of buildings and other equip- ment. A typical young Mennonite after moving on to his farm usually follows this pattern. He works his land well and tile - drains it if necessary. These people are master farmers, per- haps in their own way, but they have shown outsiders that they don't do things backwards. He knows from centuries of exper- ience, which has been handed down from his ancestors, that a farmer must grow good crops in order to make money. That's why first of all he drains his land and works it to the best of his ability. Next if he raises heavy crops he can feed more livestock. This in turn gives adequate manure, which is the cheapest yet most important form of fertilizer and humus to keep the soil in excellent con- dition. After a few years he usually makes enough profit from his livestock to improve his buildings. Old Order Men- nonite farm buildings are the largest, most practical and no doubt kept in the best state of repair of any in the land, but they rate only as secondary in the minds of these masterfarm- ers. Another interesting factor is that the barn is the first one of the buildings to be improv- ed or enlarged if necessary be- cause that is where his profits come from. So he probably puts new stabling into the barn, or a new roof on it, or builds a new strawshed or silo, If any renovations or addit- ions are necessary in the house they come next. These farm houses are spacious and practi- cal, some have hydro and modem plumbing, but the ma- jority of them have not, They are simply furnished with the necessary furniture and appli- ances, but don't have any cur- tains an the windows, pictures or wallpaper on the walls. The rooms are either painted or whitewashed, have linoleum and home made hooked mats on the floors. Any changes in the house might be enlarging the kitchen, adding a grosz- daddy house (a house for the re, tired grandparents to live in), building a new verandah or put. ting a new galvanized steel roof on it. A typical pattern of crops grown on a 100 -acre farm is as follows. About 35 acres will be sown to grain, maybe 5 acres of this is fall wheat. Approxi- mately one-half of this is seed- ed down every year to a pasture or hay mixture. Probably 6 or 8 acres of corn is grown for sil- age, and up until recently most farmers grew 4 to 5 acres in all, of turnips, mangels, and pota- toes, that is 1 to 2 acres of each. Many of them still grow these crops. Hay and pasture crops take up another 20 acres each. The remaining 12 or 15 acres is probably made up of bush or woodlot, where in the spring he may tap from 200 to 500 hard maple trees, or if the woodlot is smaller he may summerfallow from 5 to 10 acres of his farm. Some mar- ket gardening is done by a few of these people, and their pro- duce is sold at the Kitchener and Waterloo market or at local stores. In his livestock program he usually keeps and tends these farm animals, He generally milks from eight to twelve cows, separates the milk and sells the sour cream to the local creamery, This herd as a rule consists of mixed grade cows with a few cross hreds, Some young stockers are usually bought in the fall, fattened during the winter and sold in the spring. The calves as a rule are all raised and sold for beef, with the hest heifers be- ing kept to replace the milk- ing herd. Probably 6 to 10 brood sows are kept and half of the young pigs are sold when weaned, the others being fat- tened for the market, The skim milk is used to supple- ment the grain for feeding pigs and raising calves. Some of the skim milk may also be utilized in the making of the famous Pennsylvania Dutch "Koch Kase", a cooked cheese which is made from the fer- mented curds of skim milk. At least four horses, two heavy and two light ones are also kept as his tractor is used chief- ly for belt work, such as thresh- ing, grinding grain, filling silos and sawing wood. The amazing part about these people is that as soon as their young folks are old enough to work away from home, which is age 14, when they are through public school, they work for a neighbour or a rela- tive on a farm and seldom go to town or a city, int) industry where higher wages could be earned to take home and help to pay for their farms. They pay for their farms from the money which they make from their land, Thus you see from the agri- cultural program which he follows, and by not spending anything for luxuries, which to him are television, radios, movies, cars, telephones, and entertainment, he is bound to accumulate enough money to buy more farms for his children in the future. Fordwich News Mr, and Mrs. Crosby Soth- eran spent Sunday at Strathroy with Mr. and Mrs, Frank Slater, Mr. and Mrs. Carroll John- son, Mr. and Mrs. Mel Allan and Mr. and Mrs. William Sothern attended the Western Fair in London on Saturday. Miss Susan Mumford and Mr.. Larry Marriner visited friends in Gananoque. Miss Phyllis Wilson, who has been working in London, is spending several weeks with her parents, Mr, and Mrs, William Wilson. Mr, Jack Foster of Toronto spent a few days last week with his mother, Mrs. Ruby Foster. Mr, and Mrs, Charles Small and Mrs. Stanley Forester left last week by motor on a month's trip through the western provin- ces td Vancouver. Mr. and Mrs. Crosby Soth- ern and Miss Phyllis Wilson spent one day last week with Mrs. Rosemary Campbell in London. Mr. Robt. Bride of London, spent the week -end at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Bride, Miss Bonnie Inglis left on Sunday for Toronto, where she will enter the General Hospital in that city to begin a course in nursing, Mrs. Nina Armstrong return- ed to her home last week after visiting two weeks in Galt, Mrs. William Wildfang and Mrs. Ir- win McDowell of Galt spent one day last week with her. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Moore, Mr. Ross Doig, and Mr. and Mrs, Arnold Doig visited one day last week with Mrs. Ross Doig at Victoria Hospital. Mr. and Mrs, William Mul- vey and Jeffrey of Belmore visited Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. William Sothern. Miss Betty McClement, Miss Sharon Pollock and Miss Glen- na Hibberd of Kitchener spent the week -end at their respect- ive homes. Mr, and Mrs. Jim Renwick 1N OUR friendly Store NUMBER ONE ONTARIO POTATOES 10 POUND BAG 29c ONTARIO PARSNIPS 24 2 5 c OUNCES WETHEY'S STRAWBERRY JAM24 -oz. 45c FANCY MacINTOSH APPLES 6 -QUART BASKET 79c Kraft DINNER, cooks in 7 min., 71/4 -oz.. 4/45c Garden Patch Kernel CORN, 14 -oz. .. .6/79c Libby's Spaghetti in tom. sauce, 20 -oz. . .4/75c Kraft PEANUT BUTTER, smooth or crunchy, 8c off, 18 -oz. 39c M. Leaf Cheddar SPREAD, 6c off, 16 -oz. 49c MIRACLE WHIP SALAD DRESSING 4c OFF 6 3 c 32 oz. WHITE OR COLOUR KLEENEX POP UP ECONOMY 400s 4 FOR '1 00 PILLSBURY MOIST CAKE MIXES SEVEN VARIETIES 19 -oz. 3 FOR 89c -- FROZEN FOOD BUYS — SWANSON BEEF, TURKEY OR CHICKEN TN DINNER 11.4x. RUPERT'S OCEAN PERCH FILLET LB. YORK FRENCH CUT 10 -oz. GREEN BEANS 9' 39' Z1' COLEMAN'S FIRST QUALITY WIENERS .a45C FRESH PORK PICNIC SHOULDER LB. 1.B. and children of Belmore visited Sunday with Mr, and Mrs. Wil- liam McCann. Mr. and Mrs. Doug Holt, Mr, and Mrs, Bruce Armstrong and Miss Elizabeth Armstrong were in Toronto Sunday where the latter remained and will train for the next three months in Sick Children's Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Me - Clement and family of Listowel visited Sunday with Mr. and Mrs, Tom McClement. Mr, and Mrs. Don Doig and family of Galt visited Sunday with Mr. Ross Doig. Loses Finger LAKELET—A regrettable accident happened late Monday afternoon when Michael, 9 - year -old son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Casemore, came in contact with a ripsaw while it was in motion. The little fin- ger of his left hand and the tip of the next one were severed and the remaining fingers were lacerated. He was taken to the Palmer- ston General Hospital where the injured hand was taken care of and was able to return home the following day. L AKELET Miss June Wright of Water- loo spent the week -end with Mr, and Mrs. Gordon Wright, Week -end visitors at th, r home of Mr, and Mrs, Elmtl" Haskins were Mr. and Mrs. Don Turner of Hamilton, and Mr, and Mrs. Doug. Ratz of Water- loo. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Skaz of Guelph visited with Mr. and Mrs, Irvin Reidt on Sunday, Mrs. Erma Gadke and Mrs. Laurine Wright attended the 4-H Leadership Training School held at Wingham the previous week on the project, "The Milky Way': Visitors with Mr, and Mrs. Gordon McKee on Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Tom Fairburn and family of Guelph, Miss Lois Ferguson was chos- en to judge at the 4-H project, "Being Well Dressed and Well Groomed" at rhe Western Fair, London, this t ' ak BIR1'.' BEACHY—On7'4•aiday, Septem- ber 2, 196: at the Bruce County Ho, • tal, Walkerton, to Mr, and , ars. John M. Beachy, Howick Township, a daughter, Clara. Many of our delightful new Fall Fabrics have arrived ONCE AGAIN IT'S TIME TO SEW and SAVE CRISP NEW COTTONS — Inexpensive and easy to handle are the many at- tractive shades and designs just arrived. — PRICED 98c to $1.69 -YARD LANCELOT FLANNEL — This soft cotton fabric is lovely for skirts and slims and you'll be pleased with the many shades available. — $L98 YARD A Large and varied selection of FLANNELETTE — is now on hand consisting of gay floral designs, children's patterns and stripes. FRESH PORK BONELESS — 59c YARD BROCADES — So rich and beautiful for occasions requiring a bet- ter, more luxurious fabric. — PRICE $2.98, $3.50 and $3.98 YD. BRUSHED RAYON — This wonderful warm fabric with the look and feel of wool is excellent for skirts and suits. You'll love the new fall shades and patterns. — PRICE $2.98 YARD WOOLENS — Most popular of all the lovely fabrics fall has to offer are the many woolens in their exceptional weaves. Be sure you see the rich doeskins, tweed effects, plaid checks, fine herring bones and luxurious silk and wool. --- PRICE $4.50, $5,95 and $6.95 YD. MAY WE REMIND YOU TOO, OF A WONDERFUL SELECTION OF BUTTERICK PATTERNS AND NOTIONS FOR ALL YOUR SEWING NEEDS. COTTAGE ROLL rO PE N FRIDAY EVENINGS Red Front Grocery DIAL 3574020 Free DeliverY EDIGHOFFERS\ (Wingham) Limited ME FRIENDLY STORE SCHNEIDERS PURE FORK COUNTRY SAUSAGE L wasomorisolfr ,,,u.%s,n.,....,,.n,.,,..,..,..r.u,..,.,..,.i